Halloween is right around the corner and if you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids, this easy DIY ghost garland is a perfect activity to get everyone in the spooky spirit. It’s simple to make and you just need a few materials that you probably already have. It’s perfect for little helpers who are getting excited for Halloween and it’s a fun way to kick off decorating for October 31. All you need is some tissue paper, glue, and twine and a little bit of glitter if you like a bit of sparkle. View Post

Fall is officially here. It’s that time of year in between Summer and all things Halloween… and then Christmas. And before we get out the bats, witches, and jack- o- lanterns, it’s the perfect time to put out some pretty Fall greens and pumpkins. And gourds (can’t forget about those!) ;). View Post

It’s beginning to feel like Fall… And in less than two weeks the season will officially be here. Bring on all the cozy: the sweaters, boots, scarves, hats, hot apple cider (call me old fashioned but I like it better than PSLs), Fall decor, candles, baking……. all of it. I’ve started adding some Fall touches around the house and as much as I love LOVE candles, I wanted a flameless option to add a seasonal scent to the house.

This little DIY was inspired by none other than the food dehydrator that has been a staple in my kitchen for the past few weeks as we pick fresh herbs from the garden to dry (we have a round one like this one and love it). I’ve seen lots of cute ideas with dehydrated oranges (warning: this may not be the last one you see here 😉 ), and this DIY is a great way to add to the coziness of your home for the Fall by making it smell amazing. You can choose any scent combinations you like, but I really like the smell of coffee and added citrus essential oil to help keep the house smelling fresh. I opted to make a sachet that I can tuck out of reach from the kids, but pouring everything into a jar or vase would also make for a pretty home made potpourri to display (those dried oranges just make everything look pretty). This is also a great option if you’re trying to avoid artificial air fresheners- simply switch up the scents for the season to keep your home smelling fresh.

Materials

1 large navel orange

Citrus essential oil

Piece of paper towel or tissue paper

1- 2 cups coffee beans

Paper bag

Lightweight fabric bag (or use a piece of fabric tied at the top)

Directions

Begin by cutting the orange into slices not quite 1/4″ thick

2. Place slices into a food dehydrator (or you can preheat your oven to 250 degrees and dry the slices for 2- 3 hours)

3. When the orange slices have dried, allow to cool. Add a few drops to a piece of paper towel or tissue paper.

4. Pop all of the items into the paper bag- the dried orange slices, coffee beans, and paper towel/ tissue paper- and wrap it up so nothing can fall out. To be extra secure tape the seams so no coffee beans fall out.

5. Pop everything into the fabric bag and tie at the top. Pick where you want to have the scent in your home and place the sachet. You can tuck into a closet or add it to a Fall display/ vignette.

As I mentioned, you can also dry the orange slices in the oven at a low temp for a few hours, but I love the option of a dehydrator and the round one we have gets a lot of use. If you’re thinking of buying one, this one is similar to the one we have and works great.

Even thought it’s still Summer, the first day of September always feels like Fall to me. And with it comes a switch in the style department towards more layers and cozy additions (think scarves, hats & booties for starters). It’s a great time of year to shop your closet and maybe add a few key pieces that you’ve been missing or had your eye on.

But just because Summer’s coming to an end doesn’t mean you can’t wear some of your warmer weather items in the cooler months. Getting a bit creative can extend the wear you get out of certain pieces like shorts and tank tops and can stretch your style budget. Things like tights and sweaters are definitely Fall favourites and can mean you don’t have to put away some of your favourite lighter pieces just because the temperatures are cooling.

Since this time of year marks a change in seasons I’m sharing how to take a few key pieces from your Summer wardrobe and transition them to Fall, along with some footwear ideas. Booties are a favourite item that go with so many things and can get dressed up or dressed down. I’ve also included a pair of runners in this post that are great for errands or taking the kids to and from activities without compromising on style or comfort.

Starting with a few key pieces, shop your closet for different items to create a variety of outfits, and make note of items you’d like to purchase. Think of how you can pair the same piece with a variety of others you already own, only adding something to your shopping list when you identify something you know you can wear in a variety of ways (this will help you save money and ensure the pieces you buy will work well with what you’ve already got). I started with a Summer outfit of a top, shorts and flip flops, and shopped my closet for different pieces that could be mix- and- matched to create several outfits.

I created the outfits in this post with items most of us already have in our closets to show how adding just a few new pieces can be all it takes to inspire some Fall #ootds (jeans, tights, a denim vest, sweater, jacket, a scarf, hat, and footwear). The good news: it can be a as simple as adding layers and accessories to bring your Summery items into the Fall. If you want some ideas to transition your style into Fall, I hope you’ll find these tips helpful!

I started with this floral outfit: a light sleeveless top & shorts with my favourite flip flops…

…and added…

1. Tights

Perfect for days when it’s cool vs cold and you just need an extra layer to keep your legs warm. Tights look really cute paired with booties and you can throw on a sweater if things really start to cool off. Mix and match shorts and tights with some favourite tops for a variety of looks (I love the combo of different patterns/ fabric textures). I definitely went for a casual outfit here, but how cute would heels be to dress things up?

2. A jacket (+ scarf)

Need a little extra warmth? Swap out a sweater for your favourite jacket. Stay warm without feeling like your outfit is too heavy. And if things are really starting to cool off…

…add a scarf for a little extra warmth/ style. Cool Fall days are a perfect excuse to add an extra layer and add contrast/ interest to an outfit (I love the combo of different patterns like stripes and florals).

3. Denim

Great year- round, no? For those in- between days when things are cool but not cold, a denim vest is a classic item that works with lots of wardrobe pieces. It can add a different texture/ colour to your outfit and is a great piece for those days where it’s cool but still warm enough to skip sleeves. And who doesn’t own a pair of jeans? I liked pairing this floral top with my white jeans but classic blue denim goes with pretty much everything. Also- a cute excuse to rock a Canadian tuxedo with denim on top and bottom. 😉 I went with black lace runners for this outfit but booties would look super cute too (see what I mean about how easy/ interchangeable everything is when you have the right pieces?).

4. A hat

Hats are the perfect finishing touch to many an outfit and add an extra element of style and personality. Dig through those ones you put away for the Summer or treat yourself to a new one (or a few!) for the Fall to help keep cozy. A cute pom pom toque is a fun option on colder days, with a wide- brimmed beauty being a great choice that you can wear throughout the seasons. Just a little warning: once you become a hat person there’s no going back. 😉

How do you change up your beauty routine for Fall? Do you opt for darker lips and go a shade darker with your hair? Or do you have staples that carry you through the year mixed with a few seasonal items? I’m a little from Column A and a little from Column B- I have some trusted go- tos that I use all year, but love switching up some products for different seasons (think bright pinks and corals for Spring and Summer and moody blues, purples, and greys for Fall & Winter). Shoppers Drug Mart has released their Top Picks for Fall that includes top selling favourites, new finds (who doesn’t love finding a new product to love???), and some hidden gems to share with shoppers and I’m excited to share a few of my top picks for the season that I brought home from their recent #SDMTopPicks event (some lucky shopper will win a $5,000 dream vanity just for shopping at the event- lucky lady!).

Shoppers Drug Mart has been a favourite place of mine to stock up on my personal essentials for a long time and coming home with a bag of goodies to try for my Fall beauty routine has me pretty excited. After spending plenty of time in the Summer sun, my skin and hair are ready for some TLC in the Fall and I’ve got 2 new products to try just for this purpose: this leave- in conditioner from Schwarzkopf to help repair and hydrate my brunette locks and these Revitalift brightening peel pads from L’Oreal Paris to help exfoliate and refresh my skin for the cool weather ahead that tends to dry my skin out (did you know exfoliating is actually really good if you have dry skin? It helps remove the dry/ dead skin cells to bring the healthy skin to the surface).

I’m also planning on continuing my workout routine that I started in the Summer and even though the weather will be cooler, I still want to stay feeling fresh before, during, and after a workout. Thank you to Dove for being my go- to when it comes to anti- perspirant. I’ve tried countless products but Dove always seems to work the best for me and their Go Fresh Cool Essentials line is a personal favourite. I also love the light cucumber scent- it’s not too overpowering but perfect when you’re concerned about odour protection (especially after a workout!). I was happy when I saw this made Shoppers’ list for Top Picks for Fall because even if it isn’t the most glamorous part of your beauty routine, it’s definitely an important one!

Aside from these 3 products I’m including in my Fall beauty routine, lips, hair, and nails tend to be the other things I switch up and there are so many ways have fun with your look. I prefer natural- looking makeup, but love trying out different lip colours for a pop of drama and taking my hair a shade darker once the beach days are behind us. Fall also usually has me going from bright colours on my nails to darker, more dramatic shades. As a Mom, I like to keep things fairly simple, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still enjoy trying out different looks! Switching up your beauty routine can be a lot of fun and there are so many options available at Shoppers the hard part will be narrowing down your choices!

For some fun ideas to switch up your beauty routine for Fall, check out all of the Shoppers’ Top Picks for Fall and enjoy stocking up with them this season. Added bonus: when you purchase any of the items from their Top Picks List before October 7th, you’ll receive bonus Shoppers Optimum points! Perfect to help you load up on points for all your beauty needs! What’s on your beauty shopping list this Fall?